Rejoice in the Lord always
And again, I say rejoice
Rejoice in the Lord always
And again, I say rejoice

Rejoice, rejoice,
And again, I say rejoice
Rejoice, rejoice,
And again, I say rejoice

Okay, not a lot to that little song. But from what I can tell, it’s endured for a generation.

Looks like the version I remember was released in 1985, 40 years ago! I remember singing it by memory in kids’ club, singing it off acetate overheads at teens’ camp, and even singing it out of our hymnal at “adult church”. Google it, and you’ll also find a number of relatively recent music videos to sing along to. Hmm . . . talk about a song for all seasons. And it is for all seasons because it commands us to rejoice in the Lord always!

Yeah, Philippians 4:4 has gotten its fair share of play time over the years. For many of us, rejoicing in every situation is pretty much embedded as not only a command we have to obey but, by the Spirit’s enabling, as a deep-felt way we want to do life.

This morning, as I read the first part of Philippians 4, I’m wondering how our generation might look different today if someone had created a winsome, catchy little song out of the next verse.

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.

(Philippians 4:5 ESV)

That phrase, your reasonableness, is translated in a variety of ways. The old King James renders it your moderation. A number of other translations as your gentleness, or your gentle spirit. The CSB says your graciousness, and Young’s Literal Translation represents the original as your forbearance.

Wuest, in his literal interpretation of the New Testament, tries to capture the nuances pictured by the word with your sweet reasonableness, your forbearance, your being satisfied with less than your due. And the Amplified Bible really amplifies it; your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience. Okay, noodle on that being known of you to everyone and you get the idea of what this lesser-known command-to-obey is getting at.

And, while we are to rejoice always, we are also to show our reasonableness to everyone.

See that last word? Everyone! As in be gentle to everyone, forbear with everyone and be merciful, tolerant, and patient with . . . Who? You know. Everyone. Be gracious to everyone, even if it means having to settle with less than you think your due by everyone.

Oh, how that would change the discourse in so many of our churches. Change it by providing space to talk about things which today we opt not to talk about for fear of a lack of reasonableness — either on our part or on another’s. Change it by sharpening one another as openly and transparently, with gentleness, we graciously dialogue together about our opposing views and application of Scripture, patiently listening to one another as people who are “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).

And not only might it transform our fellowships, but if we really took seriously the command to let our reasonableness be known to everyone, then how might our world, our culture, be impacted? What difference would it make if we came across less and less like we’re angry and at war with those who don’t know Jesus, but more and more as ambassadors sent into our world wanting sincerely to win our world — to win everyone — to Christ? To win those we encounter through dialogue designed to detail for them the good news of grace found in the gospel. Engaging in gracious dialogue characterized by reasonableness and gentleness, demonstrating to an ever-hardening world the soft heart of the Lord Jesus, the One who describes Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29).

So then, how about this little ditty? . . .

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone
And again, I say let it be known.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone
And again, I say let it be known.

Be gentle, be gracious,
And again, I say let it be known.
Be patient, be merciful
And again, I say let it be known.

Okay, doesn’t quite carry the same lilt as its better known, 40-year-old predecessor. Not gonna be as big a hit.

But words worth chewing on? Words worth making our own? Words worth becoming increasingly representative of who we are? Words perhaps worth singing? I’m thinkin’ . . .

By His grace. For His glory.